The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and The Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) have jointly released the December 2012 update to the 2011/2012 U.S.

Industry Statistical Review and Forecast. This report delivers timely information on window, door and skylight market trends and product relationships. Historic data for 2006 through 2011 and forecast data for 2012 through 2015 are also included in the report. Forecasts are based on projections of construction activity as of December 2012.

New residential construction activity for 2012 is expected to show a 23.9 percent improvement compared to 2011, which is slightly better than what was forecasted last August. Most of this improvement over earlier forecasts is attributed to multi-family starts. The study forecasts similar improvement for 2013, and continues to predict an even stronger 31 percent new residential construction improvement for 2014. Existing home sales are expected to end at 4.7 million units in 2012, slightly better than originally forecast.

In 2012, nonresidential construction activity is experiencing slow growth in categories favorable to nonresidential door volumes (hospitality, education, healthcare, office). Specifically for 2012, total volume is expected to end at a 4.5 percent increase for entry doors and a 5.2 percent increase for interior doors over the 2011 volume.

Residential skylights are expected to close the year at more than 900,000 units, a growth rate of 6.5 percent over the 2011 volume. New construction skylight activity has proven to be greater than expected at 23.3 percent growth, while remodeling and replacement skylight activity has fallen behind initial expectations at 2.9 percent growth. The latter value is benefiting somewhat from weather-related replacement throughout the year.

Additional and more detailed information on the residential and commercial fenestration markets is contained in the 2011/2012 WDMA/AAMA Study of the U.S. Market for Windows, Doors and Skylights (published in May 2012), which includes all of the items listed below.

Dr Henry Snaith of the University of Oxford has been named as one of the ten people who have made the most difference in science during 2013 in recognition of his work on next generation solar power technology.

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